Package for lightbulbs and the like



United States Patent [72] Inventor Hubert V. Bolding Memphis, Tenn. [21]Appl. No. 817,666 [22] Filed Apr. 21,1969 [45] Patented Dec. 15, 1970[73] Assignee Eastex Packaging, Inc.

Oak Brook, 111. a corporation of Delaware [54] PACKAGE FOR LIGHTBULBSAND THE LIKE 9 Claims, 16 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. C1 206/46; 229/14, 229/39 [51 Int. Cl B65d 5/04, 865d 25/12,B65d 85/42 [50] Field of Search 206/46(Fragile),

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,160,816 6/1939 Barnes229/14 2,320,396 6/1943 Ringler.... 206/46 3,182,885 5/1965 Maio 206/46Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr. Attorney .lohn R. Walker lllABSTRACT: Paperboard carton means particularly adapted for packaginglightbulbs or other fragile articles. The paper board carton means ofthe invention includes a square-sectioned tubular body adapted tolongitudinally axially receive a lightbulb article. The carton meansincludes a parallel pair of partition panels defining correspondingconfronting openings adapted to frictionally removably engage oppositeside surfaces of the bulbous portion of a lightbulb or the like. Thecarton means is particularly designed to be mechanically automaticallyfolded and formed into a diagonally flattened configuration and isadapted to be mechanically automatically erected and packaged with thelightbulb article by an automatically operative lightbulb packagingmachine. The carton means of the invention includes a pair of tabportions operative for (l) causing the flattened semierected lightbulbcarton body to be continuously urged toward an open squaredconfiguration; (2) for causing the carton body to be locked in a fullyopen squared configuration; and (3) the tab portions serve as paperboardbase structure for bearing descriptive or advertising indicia pertinentto the packaged article or lightbulb. A second embodiment of the cartonis shown wherein there are two pairs of tab portions, with one pairbeing at one end of the carton and the other pair at the opposite end ofthe carton.

PATENTEU 0501 5 I970 SHEET 3 BF 4 INVEN'I'OR. HUBERT BOLDING PATENTED1150151910 35471256 SHEET [1F 4 U N) v o IZ::3-\ R? U v 2 LL.

INVIz'N'l'OR. HUBERT V. BOLDING BY W Maw/E- PACKAGE FOR LIGI-ITBULBS ANDTHE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Itrelates to paperboard carton manufacture generally and particularly topaperboard carton means adapted for packaging lightbulbs, radio tubes orother such articles.

2. Description of the Prior Art In packaging lightbulbs or other sucharticles by automatically operative machine means the carton is firstsemierected or folded and adhesively bonded to form a diagonally flattened carton which is then fed into the lightbulb packaging machine.Such a packaging machine squares the tubular body part of the flattenedcarton and prepares the carton for receiving the lightbulb which isthrust and packaged in the squared sleevelike carton body. U.S. Pat. No.3,1 15,290 illustrates prior art lightbulb carton structure adaptedforuse in packaging lightbulbs by means of such packaging machines. US.Pat. No. 3,182,885 illustrates also a carton adapted for packaginglightbulbs or other such articles. 7

In automatically operative machine packaging and carton erectingapparatus a problem of particular import is in machine stoppageresulting from a misformed or mishandled carton blank. It isparticularly important in operation of the high speed packaging machinesthat the cartons be quickly positively uniformly opened to a squareddisposition consecutively without a semiformed carton blank lodging inor stopping operation of a machine. This stage of the packagingoperation particularly was subject to stoppage by a misaligned ordeformed box blank which resulted in the machine having to be stoppedand cleared of such material. Also, the lightbulb package may not beproperly square and this detracted from its appearance and also its easeof packaging. In certain prior art lightbulb cartons, the carton ismaintained in a square erected configuration by the lightbulb articlecontained or packaged or was maintained in a square configuration by topflap closure means. US. Pat. Nos. 290 and '885 each include flap typeclosure means functioning for maintaining the lightbulb carton in asquared configuration-Also, in certain prior art lightbulb cartonstructures, the advertising or descriptive indicia is subject to soilingwhich detracts from the appearance of the merchandise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The carton blank means of the present inventionincludes a pair of oppositely operative tab means functioning for urgingthe semierected diagonally flattened carton to a squared disposition andfunctions particularly for initially urging the carton from itsflattened disposition to a square disposition. Also, the taps functionfor maintaining or looking the carton in a squared dispositionirrespective of whether a lightbulb article is contained in the carton.A packaged lightbulb may be removed from a carton without affecting thesquare linearity of the carton and the carton is maintained in a squaredisposition by the oppositely projecting tab portions and withoutrelying on flap type closure means for maintaining a square carton. Thepair of tap portions of the carton structure of the present inventionfunctions also as paperboard base structure for imprinting or bearingdescriptive or advertising indicia; the tap portions are arrangedgenerally in the interior of the carton and are not subject tocollecting dust or soiling by handling. The indicia imprinted on the tabportions is readily visible and without opening flaptype closure meansor the like. In addition, the carton is so folded that the smooth orfinished side of the blank becomes not only the exterior side of thecarton but also a portion of theblank becomes the confrontingly arrangedinterior surfaces of the partitions which hold th lightbulb. Theseconfrontingly arranged surfaces are preferably colored blue so that thelightbulb has a more pleasing and brighter white appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a view ofthe obverse sideofthe carton blank. FIG. 2 is a view of the reverse side of the cartonblank.

FIG. 3A-3E illustrate variousstages of the erection of the carton blankmeans of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a vertical plane cross-sectional view taken as on the lineIV-IV of FIG. 3E.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal plane sectional view taken as on the line V-V ofFIG. 3B, but with the carton expanded to an intermediate or partiallyerected disposition.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the lightbulb and carton packagecombination.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the lightbulb package.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view thereof.

FIG. 9 is a vertical plane sectional view taken as on the line lX-IX ofFIG. 7. 7

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a second or modified embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 11 is an end view of the blank of FIG. 10 after being formed into apackage and shown with a radio tube received therein. 3

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken as on the line XII-XII of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The carton blank, indicated bynumeral 11, preferably is formed of thin dense paperboard material andis generally elongate rectangular in configuration (see FIGS. 1 and 2).For purposes of clarity in description, blank 11 will be considered asbeing demarcated'along a longitudinal centerline indicated X, X. Cartonblank 11 includes transversely extending fold lines 13, 15, 17, 19, 21,23, 25, 27 arranged consecutively from left to right as viewed in FIG. 2and demarcates the blank respectively into a binding flap 29, a firstpartition portion 31, a first web portion 33, a second partition portion31', a second web portion 35, and first, second, third, and fourth sidepanel portions 37, 39, 41, 43. Blank 11 includes also a correspondingpair of tab portions 45, 45 interconnected respectively by fold lines47, 47 with partition portions 31, 31 Partition portions 31, 31 includerespectively structure defining openings or apertures 49, 49' eachpreferably generally rectangular in configuration.

Box blank 11 preferably has three pairs of areas that are adapted to berespectively bonded together by adhesive means as glue or the like.These areas are preferably as follows: First adhesive areas 33, 33"provided respectively on first web 33 and side portion 39 on the reverseside of carton blank 11. The liquid glue or other adhesive ispreferablyprovided on the area 33 for adhesively bonding first web 33 toside portion 39 in the erection of the carton blank. It will beunderstood that the glue on the area 33 will be bonded to the area 33",which preferably does not contain glue. Second adhesive areas 29', 29"are provided respectively on the obverse side of binding flap 29 and thereverse side of side panel 435. The liquid adhesive is preferablyprovided on area 29' which will adhere to the area 29" to bond flap 29to side panel 43. Third adhesive areas 35, 35" are provided respectivelyon the reverse side of fourth panel 43 and the obverse side of secondweb 35. The liquid adhesive is preferably provided on the area 35 whichwill adhere to the area 35" to bond second web 35 on side panel 33 inthe erection of carton blank 11. The glue or adhesive is preferablyapplied to the areas 33, 29' and 39 by suitable means, not shown, on thecarton machine.

Preferably, the obverse side surface (FIG. I) of box blank 11 issmoothly finished or calendared, or is fitted with a laminatingly bondedsheet of liner material for providing smooth pleasing outer surfaces ofthe erected carton and for providing smooth finish surfaces (preferablycolored, as with the color blue, for a purpose later to be described) onthe confronting surface areas of box carton partition panel portions 31,31. The obverse side surfaces respectively of tab portions 45, 45 arepreferably covered with calendared sheet material and may be imprintedsimultaneously with the outer surfaces of the box blank exhibited byside panels 37, 39, 41, 43.

Carton blank 11 is adapted to be semierected into a diagonally flatteneddisposition by an automatically operative carton blank folding machine.FIGS. 3A-3E illustrate "somewhat sequentially the steps in forming thebox blank into a disposition as shown in FIG. 3E and FIGS. 4 and 5. Inerect- 'ing box blank 1 1 into the semierected disposition shown in FIG.3E, the following steps preferably are carried out:

, Box blank 11 is arranged as shown in FIG. 3A with its reverse sidefacing upwardly and with tab portions 45, 45 and openings or apertures49, 49 arranged leftward. Tab portions ,45, 45' each are folded 180downwardly along respective fold .lines 47, 47 and into parallelcontiguous relationship respecsomewhat of an accordion-type fold withpartition panel 31 being contiguous with side panel 37 and with webportion 33 and partition panel 31 overlying partition panel 31.

Tab portions 45, 45', partition portions 31, 31', binding flap 29, webportions 33, 35, and side panel 37 are then pivotally moved together 180rightward along fold line 23 and to a disposition -whereat firstpartition portion 31 rests on side panel 41 and an adhesive bond isformed by bonding engagement of the glue on first web adhesive area 33'with area 33" of side panel 39 (see FIG. 3D). Side panel 43 is thenpivotally moved 180 leftward along fold line 27 and over side panel 41(see FIG. 3E). Pivotaliy moving side panel 43 substantiallysimultaneously forms an adhesive bond between adhesive areas 29, 29" ofbinding flap 29 and side panel 43, and adhesive area 35, 35" of secondweb 35 and side panel 43.

. It will be noted that all portions of blank 11 are manipulated exceptside panel portions 39, 41 during the above described board material atfold lines 47, 47' (see FIGS. 4 and Tab portions 45, 45 tend to urge theflattened semierected box blank 11 to a thickened configuration and suchthat is particularly advantageous in processing by lightbulb packagingmachines.

.FIGS. 69.illustrate the carton 11" in a fully erected disposition andas packaging a lightbulb article L having a bulbous body portion B, aneck portion N, and a socket engaging portion S. Box blank 11" when in afully erected disposition includes a tubular or sleevelikesquare-sectioned body portion Sfformed by side panel portions 37, 39,41, 43. First web portion 33 is laminatingly bonded on the inwardsurface of side panel 39 and partition panels 31, 31' parallel extendsymmetr'ically between first and third side panels 37, 4!. Partitionpanels 31, 31 engage opposite lateral surface portions of lightbulb bodyB; oppositely protruding lateral portions of lightbulb portion B projectslightly into aligned apertures 49, 49' of partition portions 31, 31'and with lightbulb neck portion N being received between the parallelpartition portions (see FIGS. 7-9).

Tab portions 45, 45 are restrained against further pivotal movementbyengagement respectively with the inside surfaces of side panels 37, 41.Tabs 45, 45' are configured in longitudinal extension for snugly fittingbetween side panels 39, 43jand configured in transverse dimensions forpermitting resiliently sprung movement of approximately 75; each tabportion 45, 45' preferably is of transverse dimension permitting arespective tab portion to be resiliently sprung approximately 75outwardly from its supporting partition panel 31*, 31' and for causingsubstantially a locking action in maintaining the carton body 51 in asquare disposition. The socket portion S of lightbulb L projects axiallyoutwardly from tab portions 45, 45 and is shielded by carton side panelportions 37;, 39, 41', 43' (see for example, side panel portion 39' inFIG. 9).

Lightbulb article L may be removed from erected carton 11 in thefollowing manner (refer to FIG. 9): Tubular carton body 51 is grasped byone hand and the lightbulb is pressed upwardly by finger pressing onlightbulb socket portion S. Pressing upwardly on the lightbulbdisengages bulbous body portion 8 from apertures 49, 49 and moves thelightbulb upwardly and outwardly from the carton body. The user may thengrasp the bulbous portion B of the lightbulb and manipulate as desired.To insert the lightbulb in carton 11", theuser has only to axially movethe lightbulb neck portion downwardly between partition panels 31, 31and detent lock bulbous portion B in apertures 49,49.

Preferably, the obverse side surfaces of confrontingly arrangedpartition panels 31, 31' are colored bright blue or other such brightcolor for enhancing theappearance of a lightbulb contained in carton11". This is particularly desirable when the lightbulb to be containedin the carton is coated or painted and readily picks up or reflectslight from the colored partition panel. The light reflected from thepartition panel on the lightbulb provides a very pleasing packagingfeature. Also, since the obverse side surface of tab portions 45, 45'face outwardly (downwardly in FIG. 9), the tab portions may readily beimprinted with desired advertising or descriptive indicia as cartonblank 11 is being formed. lndicia formed on tab portions 45, 45 isreadily visible when viewed toward the socket end of lightbulb L (asviewed upwardly in FIG. 9) and the indicia is shielded from dust andhandling by projecting portions of tubular body panels 37', 39', 41, 43.

The modified embodiment shown in FIGS. 10l2 is substantially the same asthe first embodiment heretofore described except that there are twopairs of tabportions rather than one pair and the opening which receivesthe article is I preferably symmetrically arranged relative to thelongitudinal centerline of the blank rather than being offset as in thefirst embodiment. The second embodiment is particularly adapted forpackaging heavier articles or for packaging fragile articles such asradio tubes and the like and is illustrated with a radio tube R.

The portions in the second embodiment of FIGS. l012 which correspond tothe portions of the first embodiment are indicated by the same numberswith the addition of the suffix a and the assembly of same will bereadily apparent from the description of the assembly of the preferredembodiment. The only additional elements are the tabs 46,46 which arerespectively disposed on the opposite ends of the partition portions 310and 31 'a from the tab portions 450 and 45'a. It should be pointed outthat in the assembly of the carton the tabs 46 and 46 are folded alongthe fold lines 460 and 46'a inwardly toward tab portions 45a and 45a.

Iclaim:

l. Paperboard carton blank means configured for fonning an open endederected carton adapted for packaging an article, said carton blank meansbeing generally elongated rectangularly and having fold lines extendingtransversely across the carton blank and demarcating said blank meansconsecutively from one end edge thereto intoa narrow binding flap, afirst partition portion, a first web portion, a second partitionportion, a second web portion, and first, second, third and fourth sidepanel portions, and at least a pair of tab portions includ ing first andsecond tab portions connected respectively on longitudinal fold lines tocorresponding lateral portions respectively of said first and secondpartition portions, and means defining relatively large openingsrespectively in said first and second partition portions adapted toreceive portions of the packaged article.

2. The paperboard carton blank means of claim l-which includes third andfourth tab portions connected respectively on longitudinal fold lines toportions of said first and second partition portions opposite from saidfirst and second tab portions.

3. Open ended paperboard carton means erected from a paperboard carton.blank adapted for packaging an article comprising first, second, thirdand fourth vertical square-arranged side panels, first and secondpartition panels arranged substantially parallel and extending betweensaid second and fourth side panels, a first web portion integrallyinterconnecting said first and second partition panels, first adhesivemeans laminatingly bonding said first web portion on the inward surfaceof said second side panel, a second web portion integrallyinterconnecting said first side panel'and said first partition panel, abinding flap integrally connected with said second partition panelextending oppositely from said first partition panel, second and thirdadhesive means laminatingly bonding respectively said second web portionand said binding flap on horizontally spaced apart surface portions ofthe inward surface of said fourth side panel, at least a pair of tabportions including first and second tab portions inwardly diverginglyarranged and integrally connected respectively along proximal fold lineportions with the first and second partition portions, and havingrespectively distal edge portions engaging confronting inward surfacesof said first and third side panels, and further with said first andsecond partition panels each including structure defining an opening,and with the opening structure respectively of the pair of openings ofsaid first and second partition panels being correspondingly opposinglyarranged and adapted to frictionally embrace oppositely facing lateralsurface portions of a part of said article.

4. The paperboard carton means of claim 3 which includes third andfourth tab portions inwardly divergingly arranged and integrallyconnected respectively along proximal fold line portions with the firstand second partition portions opposite from said first and second tabportions, and having respectively distal edge portions engagingconfronting inward surfaces of said first and third side panels. I

5. In combination, paperboard carton means and an article packagedthereby, the carton means including first, second, third and fourth sidepanel means defining'a generally square tubular open ended carton body,first and second partition panel means arranged in the interior of saidtubular body means spanning said second and fourth side panel means eachincluding structure defining an opening, the structure of the pair ofopenings defined in said first and; second partition panels frictionallyembracing oppositely facing lateral surface portions of a portion ofsaid article, at least a pair of tab portions including first and secondtab portions integrally supported from the upper marginal boundariesrespectively of said first and second partition panels and extendingdivergingly, and with the lower marginal free edge portions thereofbeing resiliently urged outwardly oppositely and into engagementrespectively with the confrontingly arranged inward surfacesrespectively of said first and third side panel means, each tab portionbeing foldably connected to a respective partition panel and resilientlyurged pivotally by virtue of the resilient character of the paperboardmaterial of said carton means, each tab being restrained against pivotalmovement by a respective side panel and at an angle between said tabportion and its associated supporting partition panel, the outwardlyoppositely resiliently urged first and second tab portions beingoperative for causing the carton body to be urged toward asquared,configuration from a flattened configuration and for causinglocking action respectively between the partition panels and the sidepanels and for maintaining the tubular carton body in a squareconfiguration.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which is included a second pair of tabportions integrally supported from the lower marginal boundariesrespectively of said first and second partition panels and having thesame characteristics as said first pair of tab portions.

7. The paperboard carton means and article combination as defined inclaim 5 wherein the confronting surfaces respectively of said first andsecond partition panels each are calendared or finished smooth andreflect light to the surface of the article.

8. The paperboard carton means and lightbulb article combination asdefined in claim 7 wherein the outwardly facing surface of at least onetab portion of said tab portions of said each of said tab portions liessubstantially in a single plane.

